The Best Of Me, taken from Sparks’ 2011 tome, sees a couple of high school sweethearts drawn back to their old small town home for the funeral of a close friend. Their love affair fizzled 20 years ago, but the reunion heats things up again, even as the forces that originally drove them apart continue to get in the way.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: are those forces a race of sentient badgers from a planet dominated talking animals? Sadly, the answer is no. Unless writers Hoffman, J. Mills Goodloe and Will Fetters want to take on our brilliant suggestion to widen the eventual film's appeal. As twists go it isn't much barmier than the one in Sparks' Safe Haven, but some people have no vision.

Marsden got the gig over Magic Mike’s Joe Manganiello, and the next task will be to find a female lead for the film. And also someone to don the performance capture suit to play Captain Clawsome of the badg… No? Really? FINE.

Those wanting to see Marsden unleash his comedy chops can see him in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which is currently in cinemas. He’s also worked on The Loft, Walk Of Shame and Welcome To Me in the recent past, so expect to see lots more of him in the coming year.